Zircophyllite is a complex mineral, formula . It crystallizes in the
triclinic – pinacoidal crystal class as dark brown to black micaceous plates. It has perfect 001 cleavage, a
Mohs hardness of 4 to 4.5 and a
specific gravity of 3.34. Its
indices of refraction are nα=1.708 nβ=1.738 nγ=1.747 and it has a 2V optical angle of 62°.
It occurs with
natrolite in alkali
pegmatite
A pegmatite is an igneous rock showing a very coarse texture, with large interlocking crystals usually greater in size than and sometimes greater than . Most pegmatites are composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica, having a similar silicic com ...
s. It was discovered in 1972 in the Korgeredabinsh massif, Tuva, Russia and is named for its
zirconium content and its relationship to
astrophyllite. It is also known from the
Mont Saint-Hilaire intrusive complex of
Québec, Canada.
Zircophyllite is radioactive, but the radioactivity is barely detectable.
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References
Inosilicates
Potassium minerals
Sodium minerals
Manganese minerals
Iron minerals
Zirconium minerals
Titanium minerals
Niobium minerals
Triclinic minerals
Minerals in space group 2
Minerals described in 1972
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